2018 Map of Scottys Castle

About this map

Scottys Castle stands as a distinct architectural landmark within the northern reaches of Death Valley National Park, situated where the Gold Mountain Range meets the Grapevine Mountains. This 2018 survey documents the vital water sources that sustained habitation in this arid landscape, including Scottys Grapevine Spring and Surprise Springs further south. The map illustrates the dramatic transition from the high desert terrain of the Mojave Desert down into the floor of Death Valley via the steep descent of Grapevine Canyon. A prominent diagonal boundary marks the state line between Nevada and California, specifically dividing Esmeralda and Inyo counties. The spatial relationship between these springs and the isolated homestead highlights the extreme dependence on localized hydrography in the high desert of the early 21st century.